high stakes testing

Controversy Follows Gist to the Statehouse

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:17:17 +0000

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist urged lawmakers to pass a series of bills aimed at improving school safety in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting during her State of Education speech on Tuesday. She also urged passage of the governor’s budget which increases funding for public schools, colleges and universities.

Class Notes: A Quick Look at the Stories that Made News this Week in Education

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:08:47 +0000

Class Notes: A Quick Look at the Week’s top Education Stories

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:22:53 +0000

Sequestration deadline arrives in D.C.

Class notes: school closures, high stakes testing

Elisabeth Harrison — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:16:29 +0000

Schools close as budgets stretch and buildings age

East Providence is closing Oldham Elementary School citing the high cost of upgrading the building. The district has faced serious deficits in the past, contributing to municipal financial woes. The Providence Journal reports that district officials Oldham would have needed an estimated $2 million in renovations to stay open. As a result of the closure, some students will be shifted to other schools.

To test, or not to test?

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:51:36 +0000

State education officials are defending standardized testing as a graduation requirement starting with the class of 2014. Students opposing so-called "high stakes testing" staged a protest yesterday at the Statehouse.

State Education Commissioner Deborah Gist responded by saying her goal is to make sure students finish high school with the right skills for college or a career. If the testing rule took effect this year, 44 percent of seniors would be at risk for not graduating.

Battle over high stakes testing begins anew

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:21:01 +0000

A group calling itself the Providence Student Union will ask for an end to high stakes testing this week. Starting with the class of 2014, Rhode Island students will not be allowed to graduate unless they get a score of "partially procficent" on the standardized test known as the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).